Coy Foster lifts off on his
way to one of his many
small balloon world records.
Dutch Viking floating
above the Atlantic. The Roziere
balloon proves its long range
capacity.
An early snowstorm cancels the
last day of the Albuquerque
International Balloon Fiesta.
1986
January - Premier Issue of Balloon Life magazine is mailed carrying a February cover date.March 1 - Bill Bussey of Longview, Texas sets a new AX-5 world record with a distance of 179 miles.
March 26 - The Balloon Federation of America is 25 years old.
April - Balloon Life breaks the news that the FAA is planning on establishing an instructor rating for balloons.
August - Sid Cutter wins his second U.S. National Championship
August 2 - Ground breaking ceremonies are held in Indianola, Iowa for the National Balloon Museum.
August 31 - Dutch balloonists Henk Brink, his wife Evelien and Willem Hageman, launch The Dutch Viking, a Roziere balloon from in an attempt to cross the Atlantic. 51 hours and 14 minutes later then land in their home country of Holland becoming the first Europeans to cross the Atlantic by balloon.
September - The Fèdèration Aèronautique Internationale presents the Montgolfier Diploma to Malcolm Forbes for his tireless efforts in ballooning.
November - Jerry Geisen, Covington, Kentucky wins the first National Balloon Racing Association championship.
Art above America. Three special
shape balloons tour the U.S. as a
gift from Europe.
Bruce Comstock wins his six
National Championsh title and
Joe Heartsill is Rookie of the
Year.
Constance Wolf commissions
Aerostar to build a Liberty
Bell balloon to celebrate the
200th anniversary of the U.S.
Constitution.
1987
January 4 - Dr. Coy Foster sets new distance and duration records for AX-1 class balloons. Distance is 11 miles and duration is 1 hour and 26 minutes.January 10 - Bill Bussey sets a new distance record for AX-6 balloons by flying 325 miles in under four hours.
January 13 - Per Lindstrand hold a news conference in London to announce his plans to attempt a crossing of the Atlantic Ocean in a hot air balloon. At the conclusion of the announcement Don Cameron rises from the audience and challenges Lindstrand to a race across the Atlantic.
March 3 - Jacques Soukup sets eight new world records for AM class (Roziere).
May 17 - BFA’s Great Balloon Lift for Farmer’s launches balloons across the U.S. in a tribute to our nation’s farmers and landowners. $40,000 is raised.
June 6 - BFA Board meets in Denver to discuss balloon insurance. Same day there are three separate accidents in the northeast which kill two and injure five.
July 2 - Virgin Atlantic Flyer lifts off from Sugarloaf, Maine. Per Lindstrand and Richard Branson cover 3,075 miles in 31 hours and 41 minutes crossing the Atlantic Ocean by hot air balloon.
August 8 - Bruce Comstock wins his six U.S. Championship. Joe Heartsill is Rookie of the Year.
September - Coy Foster is presented with the Montgolfier Diploma for his many small balloon world records.
September 5-12 - Al Nels of the U.S. wins the World Hot Air Balloon Championship held in Austria.
Sotherby's holds an Aeronautical
auction in England. Jacque Soukup
and Kirk Thomas are the big
buyers. Their purchases will form
the nucleus for the Soukup &
Thomas International Balloon &
Airship Museum.
Miss Champagne makes
its maiden, and only flight on a
frozen lake in Maine.
The National Balloon Museum
opens its new facility in
Indianola, Iowa.
The food chain...
1988
February 19 - The world’s largest balloon, Miss Champagne, to date is unveiled. The homebuilt balloon is more than three million cubic feet in volume and carried 61 people on one tethered flight. It was the only time the balloon ever flew. Today it is in a land fill.March 31-April 15 - Balloonists from 17 countries trek across Australia in a balloon competition to celebrated the countries bicentennial.
April - Kansas City balloonist John Petrehn and co-pilot Col. Towland Smith attempt to launch an around-the-world balloon flight from Argentina. Wind damage to the three-balloon system on inflation causes them to abort.
June 6 - Per Lindstrand flies his balloon Stratoquest to a new absolute altitude record for hot air balloons by reaching 64,995 feet above south Texas.
June 22-July 4 - Kodak celebrates their 100th anniversary of the snapshot camera with a three city balloon event. The $66,500 prize fund is the largest to date.
July 29-August 6 - For the 18th, and last time, the U.S. National Championship is held in Indianola, Iowa. Rob Bartholomew, Carlisle, Iowa, wins.
October 1-9 - With 605 registered balloons the ’88 AIBF becomes the largest hot air balloon in history to date.
In November of 1989, 15 years
after Evil Kneviel failed in his
attempt to jump the Snake River
canyon, Dick Roberts is success-
ful. He uses a tricycle suspended
under a Solo System envelope
and burner.
No comment.
Three aeronauts construct a
homebuilt balloon named Cosmos
and then recreate Tracy Barnes
flight by flying it in stages
across the country from Del Mar,
CA to Darien, GA.
RE/MAX brings more than 60 of
its balloons together for one
flight and films a TV commercial.
34 Texans gather at the home of
the Dallas Cowboys to establish
an unofficial indoor ballooning
record.
1989
January - Cameron Balloons announces the signing of a protocol to build the first hot air balloons in the U.S.S.R.February 19 - Japanese balloonist Fumio Niwa ditches his gas balloon in the Pacific Ocean 1,553 miles southeast of Japan ending his attempt to become the first to cross the Pacific solo.
February 25-26 - 350+ balloonists gather near Washington, DC. for a weekend of discussions with the FAA, NTSB and balloon manufacturers in Aloft ’89.
April 24 - In an effort to focus world attention on the growing ozone pollution problem, two balloonists, Briton Paul Lavelle and Norwegian Mette Larson fly a balloon over the North Pole, Upon landing they reported seeing a blanket of "a yellow sort of fog" coming from Europe.
August 4-13 - The U.S. Nationals are held for the first time in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. David Levin emerges the victor but not before Colorado balloonist Robert Mock died in the first fatal accident in Nationals history.
August 10 - The world’s largest fleet of corporate balloons takes to the sky for the filming of a RE/MAX TV commercial.
August 13 - Two balloons collide over the Australian outback. The lower balloon’s top is torn and in plummets to earth killing 13.
October - The FAA begins public hearings to consider, among other topics, the creation of an instructor’s rating for balloons.
November - Officials at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC confirm their decision to remove the Lighter-than-Air exhibit from the museum the following year.
November - Benedikt Haggeney wins the World Hot Air Championship in Saga, Japan
Malcolm Forbes
1990
January 7 - 12 year old Alex Nicholos suddenly finds himself alone in a balloon. The pilot has fallen out on landing. Crew member, and pilot, Dave Hollenbaugh uses radio communications to talk him down.January - Eagle Balloons closes its doors.
February 24 - Malcolm Forbes dies.
March 3 - John Petrehn dies.
March - Per Lindstrand is awarded the Harmon Trophy for his flights over the Atlantic and setting the absolute altitude records in hot air balloons.
May - Larry Newman announces that he plans to fly around-the-world by balloon. His financial backer is Richard Branson. Newman initially plans to lift off from San Francisco, California.
June - Adams Balloons closes it doors.
July - Balloon Life announces a balloon photo contest that will award camera, film, vests, trips, and books.
August - Steve Jones wins his second National Hot Air Balloon Championship.
October 22 - Marks the 30th anniversary of Ed Yost’s first flight in a modern hot air balloon.
Mount Everest is conquered by
balloon in October, 1991.
Tim Cole and Dennis Brown
design, build, and fly the first
ammonia gas balloon.
Per Lindstrand and Richard
Branson land on a frozen lake in
northern Canada after crossing
the Pacific by hot air balloon.
1991
January 7 - Dennis Brown makes the first flight of an ammonia gas balloon. The system is developed by Brown and Tim Cole.January 10 - Fumio Niwa ditches in the Pacific Ocean just six hours after starting on his second attempt to cross the ocean solo. Although alive several hours after landing he is found dead the next day by rescuers.
January 15 - Per Lindstrand and Richard Branson take off in Pacific Flyer and become the first to cross the Pacific by hot air balloon. They land in remote northern Canada. Top speed is 239 mph.
March 26 - Balloon Federation of America turns 30.
March - Cameron Balloon Ltd. announces that a Roziere balloon race across the Atlantic will be held in late summer of 1992.
April 1 - Jim Swanstrom, the first BFA Executive Director begins his job.
August - Jeff Menchhofer wins the National Championship.
August - Al Nels wins his second World Hot Air Balloon Championship.
October - Disney unveils their newest special shape balloon, a castle, on the October cover of Balloon Life.
October - Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta celebrates its 20th anniversary.
November 6 - Per Lindstrand is fired as Managing Director of Thunder & Colt Ltd.
The 500th anniversary of
Columbus sailing to the new
world is commerated as a group
of balloonists trek across the
country from Washington to
Florida.
The BFA holds a membership
drive. A new balloon will be
given away.
Five Roziere balloons at the
starting line in Maine to race
across the Atlantic.
1992
January - Henk Brink, Holland, announces his plans to make an around-the- world balloon flight.February 14 - The Atlantic is crossed east to west. Thomás Feliú and Jesús Gonzáles Green fly a Cameron Roziere from the Canary Islands to LaEspenranzia, Venezuela to celebrate the 500th anniversary of Columbus’ voyage to the new world.
February 21 - Earthwinds makes its first attempt at around-the- world as is unable to inflate the balloon in Akron, Ohio due to winds.
March 6 - 37 balloons inflate in Toronto’ Skydome besting the Texas Stadium record of 34 set in 1989.
April 5 - The BFA fires Jim Swanstrom amid allegations of financial misconduct.
July - Soukup and Thomas International Balloon and Airship Museum opens its new facilities in next to the Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota.
August - Joe Heartsill win the U.S. Nationals.
September 5-Oct 12 - Christopher Columbus Rediscover America Balloon Quest travels from Olympia, Washington to St. Augustine, Florida.
September - Five balloons lift off from Maine in a race across the Atlantic. Wim Verstraudon and Bertrand Piccard are the winners. Richard Abruzzo and Troy Bradley land in north Africa and establish a new duration record of 144 hours and 52 minutes.
September - David Levin wins both the Coupe de Gordon Bennett and the World Gas Balloon Championship.
Dick Smith and John Wallingford
become the first to cross
Australia by balloon.
Earthwinds tries one more
time to successfully fly around-
the-world non-stop.
A mile of balloons a mile high,
Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Serena's Song travels
around the country giving handi-
cap kids a tether ride.
1993
January 7-9 - Balloonists gather in Philadelphia to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Blanchard’s first flight in America.January 12 - Earthwinds gets airborne for the first time. In November, after a move to Reno, Nevada, a launch was foiled when a portable hangar became unzipped in strong winds. Within 30 minutes Larry Newman’s balloon hits a mountain top and the ballast balloon is damaged. The around-the-world flight is over.
June 16 - Dick Smith and John Wallingford become the first to fly a balloon non-stop across Australia.
July - Wally Miller is named Executive Director of the National Aeronautic Association.
August - Harold "Bubba" Cliver wins the U.S. National Championship.
August - Alan Blount wins the World Hot Air Balloon Championship held in The Netherlands.
November 6 - Earthwinds again runs into trouble when an anchor bolt snaps out of the ground during inflation. This sets the project back several months.
Balloon Life, 100th issue.
Five balloons set an unofficial
record for subterranean balloon-
ing near Branson, Missouri.
Ed Yost
1994
January 12 - Earthwinds launches from Reno, Nevada again. This time the balloon makes it out of Nevada. Hours later, with a frozen valve in the ballast balloon, the team is forced to abort their flight and land near Fresno, California.April - Airborne Group PLC. announces the pending sales of Thunder & Colt US.
May - 100th issue of Balloon Life.
May - Odyssey announces its plans for an around-the-world balloon flight. Bob Martin, Mark Sullivan, and Troy Bradley plans to fly above 60,000 feet in the summer and fly east to west.
May - Five balloons fly under ground in Marvel Cave near Branson, Missouri to claim a world record for subterranean ballooning.
May - First Experimental Balloon meet is held in Post Mills, Vermont.
August - Steve Fossett and Tim Cole fly the Atlantic for sport in a Roziere balloon.
August 19 - Jetta Schantz flies a stock Aerostar AX-7 to a new feminine world altitude record over China Lake, California. She reaches 32,572 feet.
August - Phil Glebe wins the U.S. National Hot Air Balloon Championship.
October - Ed Yost becomes the first balloonist to be awarded Elder Statesman of Aviation by the National Aeronautic Association.
November 4 - Airborne Group PLC, parent company of T&C Ltd., enters receivership. Cameron Balloon Ltd. buys T&C Ltd. in December.
December 31 - Earthwinds launches from Reno, Nevada. Four hours later it is on the ground after it popped its ballast balloon. Hilton will pull its funding from Larry Newman’s project in 1995.
Steve Fossett answers some
final questions before his
Pacific flight.
Bill Bussey flies 892 miles in
an AX-6 before he runs out of land.
1995
January - Ray Johnson, former President of the BFA and long-time supported by youth aviation education, is awarded the Frank G. Brewer Trophy by the NAA for his many years of educational work.February - Bill Bussey sets a new world distance record flying 892 miles in an AX-6. His flight is cut short when he reaches the Atlantic coast in Georgia.
February - Steve Fossett takes off from Seoul, South Korea and flies across the Pacific Ocean solo in a Roziere balloon. His flight establishes a new absolute distance record.
March - Balloon Life becomes the first balloon publication to go on-line. Homepage can be found at http://www.aero.com.
April - Per Lindstrand with backing from Richard Branson announces that he is the latest entrant in the race to be first around-the-world in a balloon. Lindstrand develops his own Roziere system.
June - Mark Sullivan, Troy Bradley, and Sid Cutter win the first U.S. Team Hot Air Balloon Championship held in Gwinnett, Georgia.
July - Joe Heartsill wins the World Hot Air Balloon Championship held in Battle Creek, Michigan.
August - Pat Cannon wins the U.S. National Championship held in Columbia, Missouri.
August - The FAA release the long awaited NPRM for FAR Part 61. It contains an instructor rating for balloons.
September - Two balloonists representing the Virgin Islands in the Coupe de Gordon Bennett Gas Balloon race are shot out of the sky and killed in Belarus. Alan Fraenckel and John Stuart Jervis were ordered shot down when they ventured near two military installations.
October - Joe Kittinger becomes the second balloonist to be award the Elder Statesman of Aviation award by the NAA.
October - Carl Eidsness breaks the AA-4 (gas balloon) distance record last set in 1937 when he flies his ammonia balloon 1132 miles.
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